Forming mill



Dec. 15, 1 936. s. w. WHEELER FORMING MILL Filed March 30, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 k. L in? l AT II P ITZfIl A... 1

, 3nnentor STEPHEN w WHEfZf/P Dec. 15, 1936 s, w, WHEELER 2,064,453

FORMING MILL Filed March 30, 1936 Sheets-Sheet 2 26 T t :1 1- 26 23 23 2/ 2/ 22 J 22 pp flu; E 3% i i if: :T 4/ 1-1:"; l a r 50 H 6 m w n r 5/ I T 2 I I k 43 4a /v i A fl T 32 4 '/6' 7 /7' X /7 /& //4// I attorneys Dec. 15, 1936. s.'w. WHEELER FORMING MILL 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 50 (Ittcrnegs Patented Dec. 15, 1936 FORMING MILL Stephen William Wheeler, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to Republic Steel Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation f New Jersey Application March so, 1936, Serial No. 71,569

12 Claims.

This invention relates to metal forming or sizing mills and more particularly to roll stands in which more thantwo rolls are employed to define a single roll pass.

It is common practicein metal to provide a mill having. a pair of horizontal rolls and a pair of vertical rolls, the center lines of all the rolls being disposed in a common plane and the vertical rolls being disposed approximately 90" from the horizontal rolls. This roll arrangement is particularly adaptable to rolling round shapes such as pipes or tubes, and it is among the objects of my present invention to provide an improved rolling mill of this general type in which roll changes may be quickly and easily effected. In tube mills it is frequently necessary to change the rolls to accommodate different size tubes and with my improved roll supporting arrangement the time and labor required for such a change is reduced to a minimum.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a forming or sizing mill in which the rolls may be accurately and readily adjusted to provide proper alignment with adjacent roll passes and to define properly the opening between the rolls of a single pass.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a mill of the type described in which both the horizontal and vertical rolls may be simultaneously removed from the mill and changed and in which inspection of the rolls is greatly facilitated.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my improved mill as comprising one roll pass of a series ofpasses adapted to roll tubes of circular cross section. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that my improved roll supporting and adjusting mechanism may be utilized in other types of mills and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the specific application of my invention which is illustrated in the drawings and'described in this specification.

The above noted, and other objects of my invention, will more fully appear from the following description of the embodiment thereof referred to above, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in whlch- Figure l is a side elevation illustrating a tube forming mill embodying my invention, said mill tit e art of rolling of the parts being shown in full view for better illustration, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 and illustrating the hinged vertical roll supporting housing.

Figure 4 is an enlarged end elevational view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1 illustrating the vertical roll supporting housing pivot or hinge and the vertical adjustment means therefor.

Figure 5 is a view generally similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a modified adjustable hinge arrangement for supporting the vertical roll housing.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section taken on line 6'6 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the roll housing includes the vertical main frame side members i and the transverse main frame top member 2. A suitable base 3 is provided and the frame members i are properly located thereon. The horizontal rolls 4 and 5 are mounted on shafts 6 and l which are adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power (not shown) which may be connected to the couplings 8 and 9. The horizontal rolls t and 5 are each preferably of the split type. Referring to roll 4, Figure 2, the two halves of the roll are split vertically at 4 and the left hand half of the roll is recessed as at A". This roll construction increases the useful life of the roll. roll pass become worn and enlarged the roll may be taken oil the shaft and the vertical face (i of either half of the roll cut down, the roll halves reassembled and the roll profile re-formed. In this manner the roll contour can be kept at the same radius during a series of dressing operations.

The bottom roll shaft 8 is supported in bearings carried in the vertically movable bracket ill which is guided by the vertical flanges ii and i2 of the frame members i. The upper roll shaft 1 is mounted in bearings carried by a similar bracket l3 which is also guided and supported for vertical movement on the flanges or guideways II and I2. Springs it are disposed between each of the brackets I0 and i3 and are held in position by pins I5. These springs M are undercompression and at' all times exert a force tending to move the brackets i0 and I3 apart. The lower bracket I0 is formed with a downwardly extending portion/ 6, at the bottom of which is a block I6 which has an inclined surface engaging an adjusting wedge.

This wedge member includes a pair of inclined members I! and a connecting yoke ll 66 When, due to wear, the edges of the 30 I. An adjusting screw I3 is attached to the wedge at 23 (Fig. 1) .and suitable means, such as the-worm gear I3", worm I3" and square headed worm shaft |3""". may be provided for moving the screw I3 and inclined surfaces II along the frame I3. It will be seen that such movement of the inclined surfaces II will raise or lower the bracket I0 together with the shaft 6 and bottom roll 4.

The upper roll 5 is adjusted by moving the wedge members 2 I, which have inclined surfaces engaging correspondingly inclined surfaces on the blocks 22 carried by the brackets I3. The springs I4 normally hold the brackets I3 and blocks 22 up against the wedges 2|. Movement. of the wedges 2| to the left in Figure 1 will cause the brackets l3 and the roll 5 to move downwardly. When the wedges 2| are moved to the right the springs I4 will lift the brackets I3 and the roll 5. Thus, the roll 5 is supported by the transverse frame member 2 against all upward forces which occur during operation of the mill.

Referring to Figure 2, the means for adjusting the wedges 2| are clearly shown and inrotation in suitable brackets and are provided with squared ends 25, in the same manner as worm shaft I3', to accommodate a wrench (not shown) whereby the pinions 24 may be rotated I flange or web 33 which fits between the two causing the racks 23 and the wedges 2| to move parallel to the direction of movement of the tube. The block members '22 are supported in the brackets I3 and provide a convenient means for spacing the brackets I3 from the wedges 2|. Larger or smaller blocks 22 may be employed, depending on the size of the top roll being used, without making it necessary to change the wedges 25 or the supporting brackets It.

The bottom horizontal roll shaft 5 is mounted on one side in a roller bearing 21 and on the other side in a similar roller bearing 23 and a ball thrust bearing 23. The cap member 33 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 3| which is disposed between the' two rows of balls of the bearing 23 and thus positively locks the shaft 5 from axial movement. A closure cap 32 is provided to retain lubricant in the bearings 23 and 23. Thus, it will be seen that the bottom roll 4 may be adjusted vertically by means of the wedge 11 but is not provided with any lateral adjustment and it will be understood that the vother three rolls which make up the complete roll pass will be adjusted relative to the bottom roll 4 to provide the desired form of roll pass.

The upper roll shaft I is supported at its left hand end (Fig. 2) by a roller bearing 33 and at its right hand end by a roller bearing 34 and a double row ball thrust bearing 35. The ball thrust bearing is held in position on the reduced end of the shaft I by a nut 33 and a threaded adjusted sleeve 31 engages corresponding threads in the housing 38. The adjusting sleeve 31 is also provided with an inwardly extending rows of balls which make up the thrust bearing 35.

As the roller bearings 33 and 34 are adapted to means permit a limited axial movement of the shaft I it will be seen that, when the adjusting sleeve 31 is turned, the shaft I and the roll 5 will be moved axially. A lock nut 43 is provided for locking the adjusting sleeve 31 in the desired position. A cap member 4| is provided which is generally similar and serves the same function as the cap 32 on the lower roll shaft 6.

By means of the wedges 2| and the adjusting sleeve 31 the roll 5 can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally and thus can be accurately positioned relative to the bottom roll 4 so that the profile or contour of the roll 5 will constitute a portion of the same circle as roll 4, regardless of minor variations in the rolls due to I discrepancies in machining or to wear.

The vertical or idler rolls 42 and 43 are mounted on shafts 44 and 45 respectively. As 11- lustrated in Figure 2, antifriction bearings 43 are employed so .that the rolls 42 and 43 rotate freely on their shafts. The shafts 44 and 45 are carried by brackets or sub-housings 41 and and 48 respectively, which brackets are supported on suitable guideways in the main idler roll housings 49 and 50 in such a manner that they may be moved toward or away from the center of the tube T as seen in Figure 2. Each bracket 41 and 48 carries a screw 5| which extends through a threaded bushing 52. Adjusting nuts 53 are secured to each bushing 52 and are adapted to hold them in position in the vertical webs 54 of the main side roll housings 49 and 53. As the bushings 52 are rotatably mounted in the webs 54 it will be seen that rotation of the nuts 53 will rotate the bushings 52 and cause the screws 5| to move in or out, depending upon the direction of rotation. As the screws 5| are secured to the sub-housings or brackets 41 and 43, the above described mechanism provides means for adjusting the idler rolls 42 and 43 horizontally toward and away from the center of the roll pass.

Referring now particularly to Figures 1, 3 and 4, the main housings 43 and 5|! have hinged connection at one end to the frame members i. As the construction of'the housing 53 is identical with that of the housing 43 only the housing 43 will be referred to in the following description as this is clearly seen in Figure l.

The left hand end of the housing 43 (Fig. 1) carries spaced bearing portions 55 and 53 disposed above and below the outwardly projecting bracket 51 which is bolted to the'i'rame member I, as shown in Figure 4. A pin 53 extends through the bearing portions 55 and 56 and the bracket 51, thus forming a hinge which supports the housing 49 in such a manner that it may be swung about the pin 58 as a pivot.

In order to provide means for vertically adjusting the idler roll 42, threaded bushings 59 and 60 are mounted on the pin 58 and serve to space the bearing portions 55 and 56 of the housing 43 from the supporting bracket 51. These bushings 53 and 63 are threaded into the bracket 51 and it will be clearly seen from Figure 4 that by turning the bushings 53 and 30 simultaneously the bearing portions 55 and 53 may be raised or lowered relative to the bracket 51 and thus the idler roll 42 may be adjusted vertically.

In Figure 5 an optional form of adjustable hinge is illustrated for supporting the housing 43. In this embodiment the housing 43 is formed with a sleeve portion III which is suitably bored, as seen at II, for the hinge shaft or pin I2.

Bushings I3 are secured in the ends of the bore 15 pass. yet permit ready release of the end 9| of the vides great flexibility, accuracy and ease of aa- II by means of the splitclamps-or collars I4. These collars 14 are each formed in two halves which may be secured together by screws 19 and serve to prevent movement of the sleeve portion I9 and the housing 49 axially of the pin I! while permitting the sleeve I9 and housing 49 to swing about the pin 12 as a'pivot. The bottom end of the pin 1 2 is supported in a suitable. aperture in the lower end I9, of the bracket 91' while the upper end is threaded at 11 and has threaded engagement in the portion 19 of the bracket 91'. A lock nut I9 serves to hold the pin 12 in adjusted position. It is seen that clearance is provided between the portions I9 and .19 of the bracket 91' and the split collars 14. Thus, by loosening the lock nut 19 and applying a suitable wrench to the squared end 99 of the pin 12, this pin may be turned and, due to its threaded engagement with the portion 19 of the bracket 91',

the pin 12, together with the vertical roll housing 49, maybe accurately adjusted in a vertical direction; Of course, this vertical adjustment will not interfere with the free swinging or hinge action of the housing 49 about the pin II.

The right hand end of the housing 49 is reduced as seen at 9| (Figs. 1 and 3) and, when the roll 43 is in operating position, lies in a recess 62 in the bracket 91.. This bracket 911 may conveniently be similar tobracket 91 and in addition to serving as means for latching the swinging housing 49 in position, it is adapted to carry the side roll housing 49' of the next roll A wedge 99 serves to firmly secure. and

housing 49 in position and'the end 9| may be supported and adjusted vertically by means of set screws 64 and 99.

From the above description of the illustrated embodiment of my invention it will be seen that the bottom horizontal roll may be adjusted vertically by means of the wedge H but is fixed insofar as horizontal movement is concerned.

'The top horizontal roll 9 may be adjusted verthe hinged end of the supporting frames. Thus,

the rolls may be easily and accurately maintained in the proper positions to form a pass of the desired contour regardless of wear of the rolls or inaccuracies in finishing the IOllSn' Although in the apparatus illustrated and described herein the bottom roll 4 is adjustable only in the vertical direction it will be understood by those skllled in the art that, if desired, 7

' of the rolls which is retained in fixed position.

For example, the rolls might be adjusted to one of the vertical rolls rather than to one of the horizontal rolls and thus my arrangement prolustment. L

If it becomes necessary or desirable for anyreason to change the rolls of the mill'the wedges 99 will be removed thus permitting the idlerroil housings 49 and 99 to be swung back completely out of the way. Whenin this position the sub-housings '41 and 49 may be readily re-g, moved and new rolls, of the proper size, placed in the sub-housings. If desired entirely new assemblies of sub-housings and rolls may be inserted in the main housings 49 and 99. While the side rolls are swung back out; of the way the mainrolls may be much more readily removed and replaced than is the case where the side rolls are mounted on immovable brackets. My improved hinged side roll supports also greatly facilitate changing the side rolls which may become worn or damaged in'use and speeds up the entire roll changing procedure. Moreover, an extremely simple and rigid support for the side rolls is provided as it will be seen that when Although I have described the illustrated embodiment of my improved mill in considerable detail it .will be understood by those skilled in the art that numerous variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, as noted above, the bottom roll 4 might also be made adjustable axially if such an arrangement should be deemed desirable. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the specific arrangement herein shown and described, but claim as my invention all embodiments thereof coming within the scope of the appended claims.

1. In apparatus of the type dscribed; a frame structure comprising a pair of horizontally spaced. uprights supporting horizontal rolls therebetween, a. vertical roll housing, hinge means for securing said housing to the outer side of one of said uprights, whereby said housing may swing clear of the frame structure, and means for adjusting said housing in a vertical direction.

2. In apparatus of the type described, a frame structure, a pair of horizontal rolls mounted on shafts rotatably supported in said frame structure, means'for adjusting each of the said horizontal rolls, and shafts vertically in said frame, means for adjusting one of said horizontal rolls axially, a vertical roll housing hinged to said frame and extending between said horizontal roll shafts, said housing being adapted to be swung about its hinge to bring its verticalroll either into rolling position or clear of the frame struc-- tale, a vertical roll carried by said hinged housins. and means for adjusting said vertical roll in a vertical direction.

3. Apparatus ofthe type described including a frame structure, a pair of horizontal rolls mounted on shafts and supported; by said frame structure, means for adjusting said horizontal rolls in a vertical direction, a pair of vertical rolls, housings for said vertlcal'rolls, said housings being hinged, at one end to said frame structure, means for adjusting said housings vertically, sub-housings carried by said vertical roll housings, shafts for said vertical rolls, bearings in said sub-housings adapted to support said shafts, and-means for adjusting said subhousings horizontally.

4. In apparatus of the type described, a base. spaced vertically extending frame members mounted on said base, a pair of horizontal rolls. bearings for said rolls mounted on brackets for vertical adjustment relative to said vertical frame members, spring means extending between said roll bearing brackets and adapted to exert aforce tending to move said horizontal rolls apart, means, for adjusting the vertical position of said horizontal rolls and brackets, a vertical roll, a vertical roll housing hinged at one end to one of said vertical frame members and extending to an adjacent vertical frame member, means for detachably securing said roll housing to said last named frame member, means for adjusting said hinged vertical roll housing in a vertical direction, and a sub-housing carrying said vertical roll and mounted for horizontal adjustment in said hinged housing.

5. In apparatus of the type described, a frame including a pair of vertical members spaced in the direction of rolling, a pair of horizontal rolls supported in said frame, means for adjusting said horizontal rolls toward and away from each other, a vertical roll adapted to cooperate with said horizontal rolls in forming a roll pass, a vertical roll housing pivotally secured at one end to one of said vertical frame members for swinging movement to a position outside of said frame, said housing being adapted, when in rolling position, to extend to another of said vertical frame members, means for detachably securing the other end of said vertical-roll housing to said last named frame member, and means for adjusting said vertical roll in a vertical direction.

6. In apparatus of the type described, a frame including spaced pair of vertical members, a pair of horizontal rolls supported in said frame, means for adjusting said horizontal rolls toward and away from each other, a vertical roll adapted to cooperate with said horizontal rolls in forming a roll pass, a vertical roll housing pivotally secured at one end to one of said vertical frame members and detachably secured at the other -end to an adjacent frame member, said housing and its vertical roll being swingable about its pivot to a position outside said frame, and means for adjusting the vertical position of said hinged housing. I

7. In apparatus of the type described, a frame including vertical members spaced along the path of the work, a pair of horizontal rolls supported in said frame, means for adjusting said horizontal rolls toward and away from each other, a vertical roll adapted to cooperate with said horizontal rolls in forming a roll pass, a vertical roll housing pivotally secured at one end to one of said vertical frame members and adapted, when in rolling position, to extend to another of said vertical frame members, means for detachably securing the other end of said vertical roll housing to said last named frame member, means for effecting vertical adjustment of said hinged vertical roll housing, and means, carried by said hinged housing, for horizontally adjusting said vertical roll.

. 8. In apparatus of the type described, a frame, a housing for a vertical .roll, a vertical roll in said housing, said housing being pivotally attached at one end to the frame and detachably connectedat the other end to the frame and being swingable about its pivot to swing the roll clear of the frame, and means for vertically adjusting .the position of the vertical roll.

9. In apparatus of the type described, a frame, a housing for a vertical roll, and vertically adjustable hinge means for supporting said housing on said frame, said hinge means including a bracket on said frame, spaced bearing 'portions on said housing adapted to be disposed on opposite sides of said frame bracket, a pin extending through said bearing portions and said bracket to complete the hinged connection, and threaded bushings disposed between said bracket and said bearing portions and having threaded. engagement with said bracket whereby said'bearing portions and said housing may be adjustedv relative to said frame bracket.

10. In apparatus of the type described, a frame,

a housing for a vertical roll, and vertically adjustable hinge means for supporting said housing on said frame, said hinge means including a bracket on said frame, said bracket having apertured end portions, a sleeve carried by said housing, a pin or shaft extending through said sleeve and into said apertured end portions of said housing, means for preventing substantial movement of said sleeve axially of said pin while permitting rotation of said sleeve about said pin, one end of said pin having threaded engagement with said bracket whereby rotation of said pin will effect vertical adjustment'of said pin, sleeve and bracket.

11. In apparatus of the type described, a frame, a. housing for a vertical roll, and vertically adjustable hinge means for supporting said housing on said frame, said hinge means including a bracket on said frame, said bracket having apertured end portions, a. sleeve carried by said housing, a pin or shaft extending through said sleeve and into said apertured end portions of said housing, means for preventing substantial movement of said sleeve axially of said pin while permitting rotation of said sleeve about said pin, V

said hinge to a position clear of the frame structure, and means for adjusting the vertical position of each vertical roll housing.

STEPHEN WILLIAM WHEELER. 

